What's It All For Dubya?

This question is posed to me every once in awhile and depending on my mood, my response varies from a shrug to some profound declaration of assurance. Even though I am not in the best place right now (mentally or emotionally) I will make an effort to identify what I believe it's all for.

Our path is not only fraught with challenges but constant and serious doubts of our sanity. When almost everyone is going a certain way, even if they are only milling about (I just like saying that), and you are headed in another direction that many do not understand, you are bound to ask, "what's it all for?" I believe the clues to the answer are revealed in the question.

Pondering the effectiveness of what we do (hinting at its futility) denies any inherent goodness of our actions regardless of consequence. I will attempt to avoid any unecessary cliches here. This is not an excuse to continue with truly ineffective actions. Rather we might recognize that some things we must do because they are righteous and must be done no matter the enormous pressure to do otherwise.

I am not an advocate for false modesty or martyrdom out of some other emotional need or weakness, but action that abides by certain principles. While our practices continue to evolve, I believe that good principles stand the test of time and must be passed on from one generation to the next.

One of the key Nuu-chah-nulth principles is: "Hish'uuk'ish Tsa'walk." Everything is one. Everything is connected.

Full understanding of this principle can guide our actions, with a mindful awareness of the consequences of those actions. All around us, we can see the consequences of not minding this principle: overfishing, overlogging, fish farms, oil and gas perpetuation. The list goes on and on. We allow, and in some cases actively participate in, unsustainable and greedy economic activity, often with immediate negative consequences and more devasating consequences to come.

In times like these, the world needs people like you, people who care and are willing to do something. We need to remind our brothers and sisters that they are not apart from "nature" but a part of it. We need to remember. It is our responsibility.

Most of us have children or grandchildren or nieces and nephews or will someday. I agree that our actions must be for them and those who will follow them but why not now? We can make this a better place now. Think. Say. Do. Now.